To find out, do this:

  1. Click the Start button and then click “Settings.”
  2. Click “System” and then click “About.”
  3. Click the Start button and click “Settings.”
  4. Click “Update & Security.”
  5. Click “Recovery.”
  6. On the Recovery page in the “Reset this PC” section, click “Get started.”

Similarly, How do you delete everything off your hard drive?

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and click Get Started under Reset this PC. You are then asked if you want to keep your files or delete everything. Select Remove Everything, click Next, then click Reset. Your PC goes through the reset process and reinstalls Windows.

Additionally, How do I prepare my computer to sell?
What should you do to a computer before you sell it?

  1. Step 1: Back up all your files. The first thing you want to do is make sure you back up everything you need. …
  2. Step 2: Deauthorize any software. …
  3. Step 3: Securely Format Your Hard Drive. …
  4. Step 4: Reinstall the Operating System. …
  5. Step 5: Clean it Up. …
  6. More from Lifehacker:

Does a factory reset delete everything PC?

During the factory resetting process, your PC’s hard drive is completely erased and you lose any business, financial and personal files that may be present on the computer. Once the resetting process starts, you cannot interrupt it.

How do I remove personal information from my computer?


Open the Start Menu and select Settings.

  1. Click Update & Security.
  2. Go to the left hand side, scroll down and click on Recovery.
  3. From there, go to Reset this PC. …
  4. A prompt will appear with two options, Keep My Files or Remove Everything. …
  5. Click the Change settings option.
  6. Turn the Data Erasure toggle switch to on.

How do I wipe my hard drive before recycling?

Simply go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Update & Security, and look for the recovery menu. From there you just select Reset this PC and follow the instructions from there. It may ask you to erase data either “quickly” or “thoroughly” — we suggest taking the time to do the latter.

How do I completely wipe an external hard drive?

Click the Go menu, select Utilities from the drop-down menu, and open Disk Utility. Choose your external drive from the left sidebar, and click Erase. Give your drive a name and select the file system you want from the Format drop-down. Click Erase, and the system will reformat your drive.

Will removing the hard drive erase everything from my computer?

The hard drive in your computer stores all of your files and the operating system, which is essential to using the computer. … Computers can turn on and display the system BIOS screens without a hard drive, so removing the drive doesn’t damage anything — it just renders the computer useless.

How do I permanently delete everything off my laptop?

On an Android device, open Settings and head to System, Advanced, and then Reset options. In there, you’ll find Erase all data (factory reset).

How do I clear everything off my laptop?

Head to the Start screen, find the Charms bar, click on Settings and then hit Change PC settings. Finally, choose Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows. When you choose to erase data, make sure you click on the “thoroughly” option rather than “quickly”, just to be sure that everything is deleted.

How do I wipe my computer before donating?


To restore/reset a PC (Windows 10), follow these instructions:

  1. Back-up all your data, as above.
  2. Save your software serial keys so you can reinstall on your new machine.
  3. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started > Remove everything > Remove files and clean the drive.

What does a factory reset do PC?

What does a factory reset do? A factory reset – also referred to as a Windows system restore – returns your computer to the same state it was in when it rolled off the assembly line. It will remove files and programs you’ve created and installed, delete drivers and return settings to their defaults.

What are the disadvantages of factory reset?

But if we reset our device because we noticed that its snappiness has slowed down, the biggest drawback is the loss of data, so it is essential to backup all your data, contacts, photos, videos, files, music, before resetting.

How do I remove all personal data from my computer?


Here are some tips to thoroughly tidy up your work computer.

  1. clear off your desktop. …
  2. purge your files. …
  3. have a folder for everything you keep. …
  4. clear your browser history and cache. …
  5. back up all your files. …
  6. sort out your personal files. …
  7. erase or update saved logins. …
  8. empty the recycle bin.

How do I wipe my old computer before recycling?

Simply go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Update & Security, and look for the recovery menu. From there you just select Reset this PC and follow the instructions from there. It may ask you to erase data either “quickly” or “thoroughly” — we suggest taking the time to do the latter.

How do I wipe my computer before donating?

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started > Remove everything > Remove files and clean the drive.

Does formatting an external drive delete everything?

Yes, formatting the drive will erase your data. Since it is a drive you have been using, it should not tell you to format the drive though.

Is it safe to throw away laptop after removing hard drive?

Any data left on the hard drive when you dispose of it will be lost forever if you don’t back it up. … If you want to load them onto a new computer, just plug the hard drive in and copy the files over. Back up your files online with a service like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox.

Should I remove hard drive before selling computer?

Why You Should Destroy Your Hard Drive

Before donating or recycling your computer, you need to completely wipe or remove the hard drives. By doing so, you will ensure that the data on the hard drives will be completely erased and untraceable by data thieves.

What happens to the data after we remove it from the hard disk?

When data is deleted from a hard drive, it’s not erased. … are removed meaning the data itself still exists. It’s location, however, is marked as being free and will be erased as soon as a single one of these bytes is overwritten with new data. So, if you have accidentally wiped your hard drive, time is of the essence.

How do I permanently delete files from my computer without recovery?

Right-click on the Recycle Bin and choose “Properties”. Select the drive for which you want to delete the data permanently. Check the option “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.” Then, click “Apply” and “OK” to save the settings.

How do I clear my laptop before selling it Windows 10?

For Windows 10, go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Then navigate to Update & Security, and find the Recovery menu. Next, select Reset this PC and choose Get Started. Follow the instructions to revert your computer back to when it was first unboxed.

How do I prepare my laptop for recycling?


The following major steps must be kept in mind before getting rid of old computers:

  1. Create A Backup. …
  2. Clean The Hard Drive. …
  3. Wipe External Drives. …
  4. Delete Browsing History. …
  5. Uninstall Programs. …
  6. Encrypt All Files. …
  7. Put Yourself To Test. …
  8. Destroy drives.

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